Many thanks to the Crufts committee for the invitation,
exhibitors for entering and to my stewards for the smooth running of the ring.

A few general observations. Teeth on the whole were clean
and I found 1 level bite. There were a number of bitches either not too long off
a litter or having a phantom as there were a number of droopy underlines. There
were some exhibits whose coats were only just coming in but it was clear the
texture was good. I was surprised at how many dogs hadn’t been properly groomed,
there were several that would have benefited from a really good brush, comb and
general tidying up, my hands were quite dirty at the end of judging. A couple
looked like they had had clippers on them! Some would have looked better if
their nails had been cut. This was Crufts, the premier show of the year!!

What did shock me was movement. I have avoided properly
looking at dogs being shown knowing this appointment was coming up and anyone
who has entered under me before knows I like to judge dogs moving not stacked.
Both front and rear action in some dogs was very poor and those dogs were
penalised accordingly.

Temperaments on the whole were very good with only a
handful that wouldn’t come back to my hand.

I was delighted with my winners, the DCC and BCC are superb
examples and I would be delighted to own either of them!!

VD (2,1)

1st Patton’s Lesandnic Larrson, Dark brindle
with harsh coat, very sound mover and lovely temperament as are all from this
breeder. Masculine head with correct eye, prominent fore-chest, well laid
shoulder, has plenty of ribbing giving a good top and underline, correctly
angulated hindquarter, has enough bone and tight feet.

PD (5)

1st Rowe’s Boloria’s Cincinnati. Balanced C/T of
good size, good textured body coat, has plenty of ribbing and well angulated
hindquarter, has enough bone, feet could be tighter, moved soundly. His outline
got better the more he moved BPD

2nd Vine’s Cishelvine Judge and Jury,
balanced dark brindle with good coat texture, has good tail set but is very
proud of it! Lovely head with correct eye, plenty of bone and good feet, has
enough fore-chest and shoulders are well laid back, has enough ribbing, good
body, moved soundly.

3rd Gibson’s Allfreys Here’s Lookin at You, good
sized dark brindle with super coat, has a good head and eye, prominent
forechest, could do with more lay of shoulder and his ribbing is adequate,
hindquarters are correctly angulated, his feet need to be tighter, he moved
soundly behind but was close in front.

JD (3)

1st Chamber’s Hototo’s Bark at the Moon, Sound
harsh coated dark brindle, very nice head with good eye, has enough forechest,
shoulders are well laid, has excellent ribbing and has enough bone and feet are
good, well angulated hindquarter, presented a very nice outline when moving.

2nd Vine’s Cishelvine Caught Out, balanced
brindle, thought this would be my winner on the initial go round but he was
hesitant to come back to my hand and was not as sound in front action as the
winner. Lovely head with kind eye, has good angles front and rear, enough
fore-chest, coat not as harsh as first.

3rd VanOosten’s Pier Du Chapeau
Bjwnl 16, super coat on this exhibit, very nice head, was slightly straight in
front and rear and presented a taller outline, has enough bone for size,
movement could be sounder.

PGD (11)

The action on some of the exhibits in this class was very
poor, particularly in front.

1st Shaw’s Tendrow Moondance, very good coated
dark brindle not helped by his handler over stretching him at the rear, not
needed as he has a very good hind end. Has enough bone for size, has a lovely
head and good eye, has plenty if ribbing, presented a very nice picture, has
lovely temperament.

2nd Baldwin’s Aventine Scott’s Bluff, dark
brindle of larger mould, very sound mover, super head with correct eye, shoulder
could be a tad more laid back, excellent ribbing and correct topline, well
angulated hind end and correct tailset.

3rd Vig’s Q-rrens-Dax Enzo –Topazo, super harsh
coated brindle with a really lovely head, needs tighter feet and more ribbing,
has enough fore-chest and his shoulders are adequately laid, has well angulated
hindquarter.

LD (9, 2 Abs)

Some exhibits in this class would be improved by better
handling.

1st Martson-Pollock’s Cloudside Oliver, Brindle,
could do with a touch more coat but what there was is of good texture. Has the
loveliest front construction with prominent fore-chest and well laid shoulder,
great bone and feet, loved his head and eye, excellent hindquarter and correct
tail-set. To be hyper critical ribs could go further back, his front action was
superb, could be shade more positive in the rear, close decision for RCC.

2nd Bliss’ Knottrose Juniper at Tobenkipt .
Harsh coated brindle, has good ribs and his topline is correct, his front and
rear angulation is good and he moved soundly.

3rd Hinder’s Aventine The King’s General,
fabulous masculine head on this larger cast brindle, has enough fore-chest, his
shoulders could go back a shade, has long ribbing and kept a good topline,
tailset is correct and his hindquarters are well angled, moved soundly both
front and rear. Very nicely presented.

OD (11, 2 abs)

1st Patton’s Ch Lesandnic Sea the Stars,
balanced brindle, nothing flashy or exaggerated about him, masculine head with a
kind eye, has prominent fore-chest, well laid shoulder with good return of upper
arm, super ribbing that goes well back, correctly angulated hindquarters, has
good top and underline, to be hyper critical feet could be tighter and he could
do with a shade more coat but what there was is of good texture, Absolutely
sound and he looked like he could move all day, DCC.

2nd Ray, Peterson & Malecka Am GCH Raydachs Ride
My Ducati. Good sized brindle of different type, has the head I really like, eye
could be a shade darker, has very nice front construction with prominent
fore-chest and good shoulders. Has plenty of bone for size and excellent feet,
would prefer a touch more bend of stifle in the rear and he flies his tail a
shade but the set on is good. Immaculately presented with good coat right down
to his feet. Another that was sound moving and he looked really good moving. RCC.

3rd Phillip’s Ch Wiretap Here I Am (Imp Can).
Red with good head and eye. Has prominent fore-chest but his shoulders are a
shade upright, is well ribbed and has correct hindquarters, feet could be
tighter and his coat texture could be a shade harsher. Moved soundly.

2nd Rollinson’s Ch Nosinllor Joan of Arc. Super
harsh coated brindle, she is a shade heavy and wasn’t moving as freely as the
winner, very pretty head, good bone, lovely hind end and has plenty of ribbing.

PB (6)

1st Pughe & Fraser’s Bystock Pannacotta.
Balanced red brindle, excellent harsh coat and superbly presented. Has a
feminine head with correct eye, has prominent forechest with well laid shoulder,
plenty of ribbing and correctly angled hind quarter, she is a lovely size and
sound mover. BP

2nd Warren’s Wagsford Jennifer. Lovely type on
this dark brindle, has a very pretty head, could benefit from a shade more
fore-chest, has good ribbing and nicely angled rear, has good back coat but
shade softer elsewhere. Feet could be a touch tighter. She was a touch unsettled
on the move but saw enough to warrant this place.

3rd Vine’s Cishelvine Just an Enigma. Dark
brindle of lovely type, has a very pretty head and dark eye, she has good angles
front and rear, prominent fore-chest, good ribbing, good bone and feet, she was
just running up a shade on the move which cost her a higher place.

JB (10, 1abs)

1st Seath’s Hella’s Ozlem at Sunsong (imp Nor).
Super coated light brindle, this bitch was not wholly settled at first and I
found out later that it wasn’t her usual handler; however I forgave that as she
is such a nice exhibit. Lovely head with expressive eye, she has a prominent
fore-chest with well laid should and correctly angulated hindquarter, her
ribbing goes well back and she has correct topline and underline with correct
tailset. Sound mover with good reach and drive. Still young with maturing to do
but I liked her enough to award her the RCC.

2nd Wharton’s Greyhayne Black Velvet. Slightly
out of coat brindle whose eye could be darker but she has lovely breed type, has
pretty head and good bone and feet, well ribbed with a good rear and moved
soundly.

3rd Vlad’s Megline Astasia for Sightnscent,
Excellent coat and presentation on this bitch, beautiful head with dark eye, she
is of lighter type but has lovely shoulder placement and fore-chest, has enough
ribbing, would prefer a shade more bend of stifle, has a correct top-line, likes
her tail, moved out soundly.

PGB (14, 2 abs)

1st Dean’s Brontillow Grace Darling, Well
balanced dark brindle with excellent coat and well presented. Has super bone and
tight feet, very pretty head with dark eye, excellent lay of shoulder with
prominent fore-chest, has excellent ribbing and good body, has well angled
hindquarter, handler doesn’t always stack her to advantage but she came into her
own moving when she strode out soundly, looked a picture, close decision for RCC.

2nd Bubb’s Rocinda Dora for Wyenot, another very pretty brindle
bitch, unlucky to meet first, she has many of her attributes, lovely head, good
angles front and rear, good ribs, moved out soundly, she just needs to mature
but she has time on her side.

3rd Hasting’s Lesandnic Sleepytime ShCM, super
coated lighter brindle, lovely type and sound movement, feminine head with
correct eye, has a well laid shoulder with enough fore-chest, enough bone, feet
could be a shade tighter, has good ribs and body, her rear is well angled.

LB (14, 4 abs)

Some lovely bitches, first 3 are lovely exhibits

1st Morris’ Wagsford Giselle. Brindle with
lovely bone for her size, very pretty head, sound positive mover, has good
ribbing, well laid shoulder and correct hindquarter, could benefit from a shade
more fore-chest, correct top and underline.

2nd Carruther’s Brumberhill Bellina. Lovely type on this brindle,
very pretty head and good eye, coat looks like it is just ready to come out but
good texture. Has very good forequarter and super rear, Lovely bone and feet,
good ribbing, positive mover.

1st McCalmont’s Ch Silvae Solo, well balanced
light brindle with superb harsh coat, she has everything in the right place,
very feminine head with correct eye, prominent fore-chest, correctly placed
shoulder and upper arm, ribs go well back, strong angulated hindquarter, correct
top and underline, good bone and tight feet, she is ultra sound and was expertly
handled. BCC & BOB

2nd Pughe & Fraser’s Ch Bystock Pussy Galore, a
bitch I really like and have done well for before, super well presented coat,
lovely head, well angulated fore and hindquarters, strong bone and tight feet,
sound mover, another one expertly handled, close decision.

3rd Warren’s Wagsford Lydia, brindle whose coat
could be harsher, lovely type with very pretty head. Correctly angled front and
rear, well ribbed with good tail-set. Good bone and feet ok, sound mover.

GCB (3)

1st Dean’s Brontillow Grace Darling

2nd Wharton’s Greyhayne Black Velvet

3rd Baxter’s Cishelvine August Breeze. Very dark
harsh coated brindle. Needs slightly more angulation front and rear, her head is
good, perhaps a shade stronger in bone, has enough fore-chest and moved well.